Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-08-18
IN A TIGHT PLACE.
And How q Desperate Helped Me
Out Of It

And How a Desperate Helped Me
Out OF It
My first introduction to Dakota was
hardly one to impress either-that is.
the Territory or myself-with any very
great liking for the other. But we
were both young at that time and Da-
kota, at least, has greatly improved.
1t was early in the '7Os-fifteen
years ago-that l found myself on a
Missouri river steamboat leaving
Omaha, Neb., and headed up stream.
was not altogether clear as to where
was going, but l had an idea that
would stay by the boat SO long as my
money held out-which would not be
very long. l hoped at least to reach
Dakota. Not that 1 had any particu-
Tar reason for going to Dakota more
than to Texas; but on the other hand
had Texas been as near l should GER
tainly have been as apt to have gone
there.
About all l knew-or any one else,
for that matter-cOncerning Dakota
was that Yankton, in the extreme
southeastern part. was the capital and
that there was a little settlement in
that region, little more in the north
eastern corner. with perhaps a very
few scattering settlers along the rivers
elsewhere and a number of forts each
with a few United States troops.
The reason that l came to think /
was going to explore the West was
that several weeks before I had run
away from home with that determine
tion-not a very good reason. but the
only one had. My reason for run
ming away from home was even less
obvious. But was away and too
proud to go back-though subsequent
events reduced my stock of pride sew
eral hundred per cent-if may be al
lowed to put it somewhat strongly. !
was almost beginning to consider my
self man. though l have since look ed
back at the time calmly and could not
remember that any one else ever acted
rs if he considered me any thing more
than boy.
On the occasion of which write the
boat Sadie Bolton plowed her way up
the thick. muddy waters of the Mis-
souri,. The mate swore at the deck
hands as occasion required. the pilot
swOre at the river, the engineer swore
at the fireman and pilot by turns. and
the captain occasionally appeared and
swore at things in general.
Being of an inquiring turn of mind.
/ explored the lower deck and got into
conversation with one of the crew.
From him learned that Buck Hawk
ms was on board. / had heard of Buck
Hawkins as the most dangerous man
in that part of the country. He stayed
up the river in the ncighborhood of
Yankton most of the time. but l I'M
derstOod from my informant had been
dow, to St. Louis on some sort of bust
ness and was returning to Yankton. l
felt anxious to see him as soon as l
found he was on board. The man told
me l doubtless could do so if l would
take the trouble to hunt up the bar, as
he and some friends were indulging in
4 poker game in its immediate vicinity.
soon found the place, and to my
whispered inquirya spectator informed
me which of the four gathered around
the card-table was Hawkins I was
somewhat surprised. as he did not
look as l had pictured him. He was
small. not over five feet and seven or
eight inches, and evidently weighed
less than one hundred and fifty
pounds He had brown hair and gray
eyes. aud although his face showed
determination and force. there was
nothing of the reckless desperate
which l knew he had the reputation
of being. l watched the game for
some time. l learned that the other
three were all professional gamblers
and that Hawkins was losing. The
room was full of spectators, as it
seemed to possess interest for every
one on the boat. Everybody expected
trouble. There were great stacks of
chips and money on the table, and
Hawkins and the gambler opposite
him each had a heavy six-shooter living
on the table in front of him. while the
Others had similar weapons in their
belts Every one knew that the
gamblers were not playing square
game and that it was only a question
of time when they got all of Hawkins
money. That WAS the time trouble
was expected. he had been drinking
heavily. and should he detect them
cheating it was known he would not
hesitate TO shoot them all unless they
shot him first
All the afternoon remained close by
the table watching The game inteatly.
] had become almost as much interest
ed as the players. Hawkins money
asas slowly but surely going. Once